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Lujan Grisham Responds to DOJ Threat to withhold Funding to APD

Aug 3, 2017

Press Release

ALBUQUERQUE – Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham issued the following statement today following a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice that threatens to withhold federal funding to the Albuquerque Police Department.

The DOJ in a letter to Police Chief Gorden Eden concluded that APD is eligible to receive federal funding under a new Public Safety Partnership program to help communities address violent crime. However, the DOJ also raised several questions about APD’s approach to crime related to illegal immigration.

“This political directive from the Department of Justice threatens to make cities like Albuquerque less safe by forcing local police officers to do the work of federal immigration agents,” Rep. Lujan Grisham said. “Albuquerque’s police force is chronically understaffed, and officers are already working overtime to combat violent crime in our community.

“Our local law enforcement is better equipped to target crime. We should support those efforts with more resources, not threats to withhold federal funding.”